UEFA has taken decisive action in response to the controversial added-time penalty incident during the recent Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United. The governing body has removed Tomasz Kwiatkowski, the Polish VAR centrally involved in the contentious decision-making process, from duty for a Wednesday night game.
The incident unfolded in the 96th minute of the match, capturing widespread attention and debate. Referee Szymon Marciniak, prompted by Kwiatkowski, consulted the pitchside monitor after the ball struck the arm of Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento. After careful review, Marciniak reversed his original decision and awarded a penalty to PSG. Kylian Mbappé successfully converted the penalty, securing a crucial 1-1 draw for the home side and placing qualification for the round of 16 firmly in the hands of the French club.
🚨 UEFA have clarified that "no handball offence should be called on a player if the ball is previously deflected from his own body", following the penalty awarded to PSG in the 98th minute against Newcastle. So they've admitted the referee made a massive error. pic.twitter.com/t4OyhRuMpj — Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) November 29, 2023 “>
The fallout from this decision has reverberated through the football community, with fans, players, and pundits alike expressing varying opinions on the use of VAR and the interpretation of handball incidents. UEFA’s decision to remove Kwiatkowski from duty for an upcoming game underscores the significance of the controversy and the governing body’s commitment to addressing perceived shortcomings in officiating.
In April, the UEFA Football Board, a collection of former players and coaches which acts as an advisory body, said that deflections off the body onto the arm should not be penalised. However, this recommendation was not taken forward as it would be against IFAB guidelines of the handball law as a blanket exemption.